Hifi Pig is immensely pleased to welcome our newest reviewer to the team, Richard Joyce.

Richard often says that he started to learn to read music before he could read the written word, and whilst at Infant School took up the Clarinet, aged 6 and then Piano when aged 9. In 1979, aged 13, he won the coveted Mayor’s Cup for the finest soloist performance at the Cambridge Festival and 2 years later attained a Professional Performer’s Diploma (Clt) from the Royal College of Music. He had a change of heart when leaving school at 18, and instead of doing the ‘normal’ thing and going on to Music College, he joined the Royal Air Force as a Direct Entry musician. During his long career in the RAF, he was Principal Clarinettist of the Central Band for 21 years and now holds a Professional Diploma in Music Directorship/Conducting from the Royal College of Music.

He has performed as a soloist in some of the finest concert halls in the country, namely Symphony Hall Birmingham, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall amongst many others. He’s also worked with such names as Brian May, Ron Goodwin, Frank Renton, Donald Hunsberger, Frederick Fennell, Kenneth Alwyn and performed for the BBC as a soloist on Radio 3 and played with the BBC Concert Orchestra. He also has a huge amount of recording experience, working in some of the finest studios in the UK including CTS Wembley, Air Studios, BBC Maida Vale, Angel Studios, and live recordings for radio at BBC Golders Green. Since leaving the RAF he has received requests for solo work, and teaches Clarinet at home in Lincolnshire.

His interest in hifi began at a very early age (approx aged 6 he thinks) when his father bought the first ‘proper’ hifi system into the house. This consisted of a Lenco L75, Sugden A21 and Celestion Ditton 15. Richard couldn’t believe the sound a pair of boxes could make, so got hooked on the whole idea of ‘music in the home’ and hasn’t shaken the habit since!

his first review for Hifi Pig will be live very soon.